An image of an ID badge has been circulating widely online since Thursday, purportedly identifying the suspect involved in the recent shooting of National Guard members. The badge claims that the individual was assigned to the Kandahar Strike Force or 03 unit, which is part of a group known as Zero Units. These units operated closely with U.S. and other foreign forces during the prolonged conflict in Afghanistan.
The ID badge features the term Firebase Gecko, a name that refers to a base previously utilized by the CIA and special forces in Kandahar, located in southern Afghanistan. This base was situated on the grounds of the former compound of the Taliban's founding leader, Mullah Mohammad Omar. It is important to note that CBS News has yet to independently verify the authenticity of the ID badge circulating online.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe has confirmed that the suspect had previous ties to the U.S. Government, including the CIA, as a member of a partner force operating in Kandahar. The Zero Units, which were exclusively made up of Afghan nationals, were under the jurisdiction of the National Directorate of Security (NDS), Afghanistan's intelligence agency that was established with support from the CIA for the previous, U.S.-backed government.
A former senior Afghan general, who served under the previous government, informed CBS News on Thursday that the 03 unit, also known as the Kandahar Strike Force (KSF), fell under the special forces directorate of the NDS. He described these units as the most active and professional forces, having been trained and equipped by the CIA. Notably, all operations conducted by these units were carried out under the command of the CIA.
The Zero Units gained a controversial reputation in Afghanistan, known for their secrecy and allegations of brutality. Members of these units have been implicated in numerous extrajudicial killings of civilians, particularly during night raids. Despite these allegations, they were regarded by the U.S. and its international partners as some of the most trusted domestic forces in Afghanistan.
As of now, there has been no immediate reaction from Afghanistan's current Taliban government. Officials in Kabul have not responded to CBS News' requests for comment regarding the arrest of the suspect in Washington.